Viscosimeter



Dec. 5, 1939.

H. P. HAYDEN ETIAL VISCOSIMETER Filed June 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Dec. 5, 1939. H. P. HAYDEN Er AL 2,182082 vIscosIMETER Filed June 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cimen Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE VISCOSIMETEB Harold P. Hayden, Sewaresn, and Herbert E. Schweyer, Bahway, N. J., assignors to Barber Asphalt Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application rune 2a, 1937, sensi No. 149,906

' 9 clama (c1. zes- 11) Iof which is hollow, with the material the viscosity yof which is to be determined. The outer cylinder is then held stationary, and the inner cylinder is moved vertically along the common axis of the two under known loads. Under such conditions the rate of movement of the inner cylinder with respect' to 'the youter stationary cylinder is a function ofthe viscosity of the material under test.

For a complete discussion of this method of determining the viscosity, and'- of the theoretical considerations involved, reference is made to an article by A. Pochettino, entitled The Properties of Plastic Materials, published in Nuovo vol. 8. pages 77-92, in the year 1914.

It is the purpose'of the present invention to provide an instrument capable of measuring easily and rapidly, even in the hands-oi a relatively inexperienced observer, the viscosity oi.' viscous materials, such as, for example, asplalts, tars, pitches, and the like.

The viscosimeter, in accordance with the present invention, makes use of a pair of coaxial cylinders to measure the viscosity of the sample under test,but is so arranged that the extent of movement ofthe inner cylinder in any given time or the time required for a given movement to occur may be easily and directly determined irom the instrument and converted directly into viscosity values. Furthermore, the viscosimeter, in accordance with this invention, makes it possible ,to determine easily and rapidly bothgthe upwar and downward movements oi the inner cylinder without the necessity of handling or otherwise disturbing the sample undergoing test.

In the drawings, which represent' va preferred form oi the improved viscosimeter in accordance with this invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of such preferred iorm of viscosimeter.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the main body of the viscosimeter shown in Figure 1, certain of the parts being omitted for clarity. Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the .line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure-1 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 4 4 of Figure 1, certain parts being omitted.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view showing the coaxial cylinders and the sample to be tested.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the Aline 9 5 of Figure 5. 10

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of 'the centeringV plate used `in preparing the sample for test.

- 'Ihe base I of the instrument is provided with a plurality of levelling screws 3, and serves a's a support for the column 5 extending vertically l5 from the center portion of the base, from which column all the remaining parts of the instru-4 ment are supported.

'I'he body of the instrument comprises a pair of lower side members l secured to the column 20 5, and a. pair of upper side members 9 likewise secured to the column 5 adjacent the upper end thereof. A` front plate II is secured to the side members l, 9 at one end thereof, and a back plate I3 to the side members at the other end 25 thereof. 'Ihe iront and back plates are connectedat the top by a cover plate I5.

Secured to the upper side members 9, and to the upper end of the column 5, is a block I'l provided with spaced apart side plates I9, be. 30 tween which is positioned a balance arm 2l supported on a shaft 23 journaled in bearings 25, which are secured in the side plates I9. Extending horizontally from the rear end of the balance arm 2l is a threaded rod 2l, along which 35 a small weight 29 isadjustable and may vbe locked in position by means of the nut 30. Extending ,in a generally horizontal direction from the iront end of the balance arm 2| is an upper =arm 3l and a lower arm 33 secured in spaced 40 'I'he spindle 4I carries at its outer end a pointer 45 rotatable around a graduated dial Il 5o mounted on the outside oi iront plate I I. Movement of the balance arm 2| about its pivot 29 accordingly causes rotation o! the spindle 4I and the pointer 4I.

The ends of the balance arm 2l are formed as arcs of a circle having its center at the axis of rotation of shaft 23 and secured to each end of the balance arm 2| near its top edge is a pair of flexible straps 49, which may be formed of brass and which are secured at their lower ends to two cross plates 5| guided against lateral displacement by the fixed guidesf53 secured to the upper side members 9. f

Secured to the center of each cross plate 5| and extending downwardly therefrom is a rod 55. Each rod 55 is provided with a plurality, three being shown in the drawings, of collars 51, and slidable along the rod 55 above each of'the collars 51 are a seriesv ofrsX weights, three on each rod. The weights are paired to form three sets of different mass, each pair comprising two weights of equal mass, and are designated in order of increasing mass at 59, 6| and 63 on the forward rod 55, and 59'-, 6| and 63' on the rearward rod 55.

Secured to the central column 5 in line with each pair of weights on the rods -55 are collars provided with transversely extending pins 67 on which are pivoted three lever arms, identical in structure but not in function, and designated generically in the drawings by the reference characters 69, 1| and 13, respectively. Each of these lever arms comprises a pair of side plates 15 in which the pins 61 are journaled, which are secured together in spaced apart relationship by cross bars 11, and,. at the ends, -by channel members 19. n pin 82 is secured between the anges of the forward channel member 19, and pivotally mounted on these pins 82 are handle members designated to correspond with the respective lever arms, as 69', 1| and 13. Each of these handle members extends through one of three reversed E-shaped slots 8| in the front plate of the instrument.

Each of the weights 59, 59'; 6|, BI; 63, 63' is provided with a transversely extending pin 83 adapted to engage, under certain conditions, as hereinafter described, corresponding notches 85 formed in the side plates of each of the lever arms 69, 1| and 13.

The lower end 86 of the rearward rod 55 isv guided within a hollow cylinder-or collar 81 set between the lower side members 1. Secured in a collar 89 set between the lower side members 1 and extending downwardly beneath the frame is a hollow cylinder 9| formed of a low-heat-conducting material, such as for example, Bakelite, and having its axis coinciding with that of the forward rod 55.

Referring more particularly to Figure 5, there is shown an outer hollow cylinder 93 provided with an outwardy extending base 95 having a plurality of apertures 91 and an outwardly extending segmental lange 99. An inner cylinder |0|, coaxial with the outer cylinder 93, isvbored A to receive shaft |03, said shaft being formed of 'ILS rial undergoing test.

In preparing the sample to undergo test, the two cylinders 93 and |0| are set on the centering plate ||3 provided with `centering pins ||4 and v the upper surface of which has been previously treated, as by amalgamation, to prevent adhesion of the material to be tested. The lugs I5 on the surface of this plate are positioned in the apertures 91 in the 'base of the outer cylinder, and the upturned ange ||1 adjacent the center of the plate and the centering pins H4 are positioned within the annular recess ||9 in the base of the inner cylinder |0|. This insures that the two cylinders are truly coaxial, and eliminates any error in the measurement due to improper positioning of the two cylinders with respect to each other. The sample to be tested, heated, if necessary, to give it the proper uidity, is poured into the annulus between the two cylinders and perf mitted to cool or harden. The uppersu-rface is then trimmed flush with that of the two cylinders, and the sample is then ready for insertion into the testing apparatus.

The twov cylinders and sample are secured to the lower end of the cylinder 9 which isthreaded, by means of the gland nut |2| provided .with inturned segmental anges |23, which engage the segmental flanges 99'on the base-of the outer cyl# inder 93. The inner cylinder is secured to the shaft |03, which extends upwardly within the hol'- low cylinder 9|, and is secured to the lower end of the forward rod 55 by means of the coupling |25.

Surrounding the lower portion of the hollow cylinder 9| and the two coaxial cylinders 93 and I0 I, together with the sample I, is a water bath |21 provided with conventional means for circulating the water within the bath to maintain a uniform temperature, and conventional thermostatically controlled means for maintaining a uniform water temperature. The water bath |21 is supported in a pan or cup |29 pivotally connected to links |3|, which are in turn pivotally connected at their centers to a collar |33 secured to the column 5, and at their other ends to a counterweight |35. lThe counterweight |35 exceeds the Weight of the pan |29, together with the Water bath and contents, and so normally holds it in raised position, as shown in Figure l, an adjustable stop |31 being provided to adjust the position of the pan |29. The pan |29 may, however, be easily lowered, together with the water bath |21, to permit easy access to the sample at the bottom of cylinder 9|.

In operating the instrument, in order to determine the viscosityv of a sample of, for example, asphalt, the -sample of material is vprepared by being flowed. into the annulus between the outer cylinder 93 and the inner cylinder |0| while they are in position on the centering plate ||3, as described above. After cooling and trimming the pair of cylinders with the sample in position and still held in proper relative position by the centering plate ||3, as shown in Figure 5, are then secured to the end of the shaft |03, and the as-` sembly secured in place at the lower end of the cylinder 9|, the shaft |03 beingconnected to the end of the forward rod 55. y

The lower end of the cylinder 9|, including the innerD and outer cylinders of thesample secured K i thereto, is .immersed in the water bath |21, and

after waiting a suitable interval for the sample to come to the temperature of the water bath the centering plate I3 is removed. It willbe understood that the apparatus'has been put into balance by adjustment of weight 29 withthe inner cylinder |0| inv place and immersed inthe water bath in order to compensate for the effective weight of the inner cylinder. v

The-instrumentis then '-r'eady to make the visyet cositv measurement, and this is accomplished by 15 imposing a definite load on the cylinder I0 I either in a downward or upward direction, by means of one or more of the weights 59, 59'; 6I, SI; 63, 63. 'I'he particular weight used to impose the load will depend upon whether the approximate viscosity of the sample is high, low or intermediate. Thus, for an asphalt of low viscosity, one of the smaller weights 59, 59' will be employed, while for an asphalt of intermediate viscosity, one of the weights 6|, 6I' will be used; and similarly, for an asphalt of high viscosity, one of the weights 63, 63 will be used. The load imposed may either initially be in a downward or an upward direction at the option ofthe operator, but ordinarily it will initially be in a downward direction. I

Let us suppose that the operator desires to impose a load equivalent to the mass of one of the weights 6|, 6| in a downwardly direction. He will move the handle member 1| of the lever arm 1|, associated with the weights 6|, 6| to the bottom of its slot 8| in the front plate and then move it to one side to engage the lower notch of said slot and so lock the lever arm 1| with its forward end in downward position. This will cause the rearward notch 85 in the lever arm 1| to engage the pin 83 of the weight 6| -and so lift the weight 0H of the collar 51 supporting it.

The other two lever arms, 69 and 13, will be locked in a horizontal position with their handles 69 and 13', respectively, engaged in the central notch of the corresponding slots 8| in the front plate I I. In this position the several weights associated with these lever arms will not be engaged therewith, but will rest upon the collars 51 formed on the rods 55. The system will then be in the position shown in Figure 1, and it will be seen that there is a force -acting downwardly on the forward rod equivalent to the masses of weights 59, 6| and 63, while there is a force acting downwardly on the rearward rod 55 (and hence upwardly on the forward rod 55) equivalent to the mass of weights 59' and 63. Since the several pairs of weights are, as has been previously stated, formed of two weights of equal mass, it will be seen that the net effect is that of a force equivalent to the mass of weight 6| acting downwardly on the forward rod 55. This force is applied through the shaft |03 to the inner cylinder |0|, and tends to move this inner cylinder downwardly with respect to the xedouter cylinder 93, a motion which is opposed by the sample of material undergoing test positioned between the two cylinders. A resulting slow movement of the inner cylinder |0| with reference to the outer cylinder 93 takes place,'the rate of which movement is a function of the viscosity of the sample undergoing test.

The motion of the rods 55, which is in no case suilicient, in the period of time allowed fora test, to cause any of the Weights to become engaged with the notches 85 in those lever arms which are locked in horizontal position, is transmitted through the balance arm 2|, the members 3|, 33 and the thread 31 to the needle or pointer 45, and thus the-rotational movement of y this pointer in a given time, or conversely, the time necessary for the pointer to `revolve through a given angle, may be taken as a measure of the viscosity of the sample undergoing test.

It will be apparent that`if, for example, the lever arm 1I were moved from the position shown in Figure 1 with its forward end down, to a position with its forwardend up, and the handle member 1| locked in the upper notch of its slot in the front plate ||a force equal to the mass of the weight 5|' would be imposed on the forward rod 55 in an upward direction, and there would be a tendency for the inner cylinder IOI to be moved upwardly with reference to the outerycylinder 93. In practice, an actual test of a sample for viscosity will usually comprise a series of determinations in 'which the force is applied alternately downwardly and then upwardly.

. It will also be seen that any of the' other weights may be brought into action so as to impart either a downward or an upward force to the forward rod 55 by suitable movement of the lever arms ass ociated therewith. Thusywhenever, one of the handle members associated with these lever arms is locked inthe upper notch of its slot 8|, the weights associated with such lever are acting in an upward direction on the forward rod 55 and the inner cylinder IBI. When such handle member is locked in the lower notch in its slot 9|, the weights associated therewith are acting in a downward direction, while when such handle member i's locked in the central notch in its slot 8|, then the weights associated therewith act .to balance each other,`and hence impose' no force, either upward or downward, on the inner cylinder |'0|.

It will be -seen that the instrument in accordance with this invention enables an operator, even a" somewhat unskilled one, to impose a definite and reproducible force in either an .upward or a downward direction on the inner cyl inder IBI `of the pair of coaxial cylinders, and to read directly and easily the movement of such inner cylinder under the action of s uch force on a calibratedldial so that the rate of movement, from which the viscosity may be calculated, can be easily determined.

The viscosity of the material undergoing test may be determined from the data obtained by use of our viscosimeter by means of the following equation, developed by Pochettino:

The densities of asphalt and water may be both assumed to be equal to l without introducing appreciable error, and D--d may be set equal to 0.

' And since in operation the instrument is initially bal nced with reference tothe effective weight ofthe inner cylinder |0I, wo may also ,be set equal to 0. The equation above then becomes:

E zosgvy R t 172a-Lv g t- 2z-L Q o :h1-

in which:

t=time in seconds f h=distance movedv by the inner cylinder vlill in centimeters where'jh is the movement in centimeters of the inner cylinder with respect to the outer in vt seoonds.` ,n

. Inany given instrumentI R, r and L are constants, and our investigations have shown that the value should be kept below 0.5 if satisfactory and consistent results are to be obtained. In addition,l y

the value of (R-r) must not be too small or wall effects will prevent a measurement of the actual laminar ow and determination of true viscosity. We have found that the following values of R, r and L are very satisfactory for use in an instrument of the type here described:

R: (1.905 om.)

r= y2 (1.270 cm.)

L=1 (2.540 cm.)',

Volume of annulus=16.1 cc. Substituting these values in the above equation,- we have:

or, selecting an arbitrary series oi weights, w1, wz, wa, etc. and an arbitrary distance h, the equation may be written and n may be calculated directly from the elapsed time measured by the operator.

In an instrument having the values of R, r and L above described, the weights may conveniently have the following masses:

weights 59, 59' 4o+f grams where f is the friction (in grams) opposing movement of the balance arm 2|.

Weights 61, 61 -400 -i-f grams Weights 63, 63 4000-1-f grams K for weights 59, 59=104 K for weights 61, 61=105 K for weights 63, 63=106 What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: y

1. A viscosimeter comprising a pair of coaxial cylinders, the outer of which is hollow, whereby an annular space is provided between the cylinders to receive' a sample of viscous material to be tested, a frame, means for retaining the outer cylinder in xed position with reference to said frame, a balance arm pivotally mounted in said frame, rods dependent from each end of said balance arm, means for applying variable loads to either of said rods, and means connecting one of said rods to said inner cylinder. so that movement of said rods will move said cylinder alongA the common axis of the two cylinders.

k 2. A viscosimeter comprising a pair of coaxial cylinders, the outer of which is hollow, whereby an annular space is provided between the cylinders to receive a sample of viscous material to be tested, a frame, means for retaining the outer cylinder in xed position with reference to said frame, a balance arm pivotally mounted in said frame, rods dependent from each end of said balance arm, means for applying variable loads to either of said rods, means connecting one of said rods to said inner cylinder so that movement of said rod will move said cylinder along the common axis of the two cylinders, and means operatively connected to the movable sys'- tem comprising the balance arm, rods and inner cylinder to indicate the movement 'of the inner cylinder with respect to the outerI cylinder.

3. A viscosimeter comprising a pair of coaxial/v cylinders, the outerof which is hollow, whereby an annular space is provided between the cylinders to receive a sample of viscous material to be tested, a frame, means for retaining the outer cylinder in fixed position with reference to said frame, a balance arm pivotally mounted in said frame, rods dependent from each end of said balance arm, means for applying variable loads to either of said rods, and means connecting one of said rods to said inner cylinder so that movement of said rod will move said cylinder along the common vaxis of the two cylinders, said -means for retaining the outer cylinder in xed position with reference to the frame and said connecting means between said inner cylinder and the rod being formed of low heat-'conducting material. i v

4. A viscosimeter kcomprising a pair of coaxial cylinders, the outer of which is hollow; whereby an annular space is provided between the cylinders to receive a sample of viscous material to be tested, a frame, means for retainingy the outer cylinder in fixed position with reference to said frame, a balance arm pivotally mounted in said frame, a rod dependent from each end of said balance arm, a plurality of collars on each of said rods, a plurality of weights each slidably mounted on said rods above each collar andl normally resting thereon, each weight on one rod being paired with a weight of equal mass on the second rod and each pair of weights having different masses, whereby thel system as a whole is balanced, means for raising any weight off fromthe collar on which it normally rests and retaining it in such raised position, thereby unbalancing the system, and means connecting one of said rods to said inner cylinder so that movement of said rod will move said cylinder along the common axis of the two cylinders.

5. A viscosimeter comprising a pair of vcoaxial cylinders, the outer of which is hollow, whereby an annular space is provided between the cylinders to receive a sample of viscous material to be tested, a frame, means for retaining the outer cylinder in xed position with reference to said frame, a balance arm pivotally mounted in said frame, a rod dependent from each end of said balance arm, a plurality of collars on each of said rods, a plurality of weights each slidably mounted on said rods above each collar and normally resting thereon, each weight on' one rod being paired with a weight of equal mass on the second rod and each pair of weights having diierent masses, whereby the system as a whole is balanced, means for raising'any weight on from the collar' on which it normally rests and retaining it in such raised position, thereby unaisance balancing the system, means connecting oneot said.I rods to said inner cylinder so that movement of said rod will move said cylinder along the' common axis of the two cylinders, and means operatively connected to said balance arm to magnify and indicate the motion thereof.

6. A viscosimeter comprising a pair of coaxial cylinders, the outer of which is hollow, whereby an annular space is provided between the cylinders to receive a sample of viscous material to be tested, a frame, means for retaining the outercylinder in fixed position with reference'to said frame, a balance arm pivotally mounted in said frame, a rod dependent from each end of said balance arm,.a plurality of collars on each of said rods, a plurality of weights each slidably mounted on said rods above each collar and normally resting thereon, each weight on one rod being paired with a weight oi! equal mass on the second rod and each pair of weights having different masses, whereby the system as a whole is balanced, a plurality of lever armsone for each pair of weights, pivotally mounted adjacent their centers in said frame, each lever arm being adapted to engage and raise o yfrom the collar on which it normally rests one weight of a pair when tilted in one direction and the other weight of that pair when'tilted in the other direction, and to engage neither weight when in horizontal position, whereby the systemkmay be unbalanced by movement of said lever arms, and means to lock any one of said lever arms in any one of the threepositions indicated.

7. A viscosimeter comprisinga pair of coaxial cylinders, the outer of which is hollow, whereby an annular space is provided between the cylinders to receive a sample of viscous material to be outer cylinder.

tested, means for retaining the outer cylinder in ilxed position, a balance arm, rods 'dependent from each end of said balance arm,- means for applying variable ,loads to either of said rods,`

means connecting one of said rods to said inner cylinder so that movement of said rod will move said cylinder along the common ax'is of the two cylinders, and means for indicating-the movement of the inner cylinder with respect to the 8. A viscosimeter comprising a pair of coaxial cylinders, the outer of which is hollow, whereby an annular space is provided between the cylinders to receive a sample of viscous material to be tested for laminar iiow therebetween, said .outer cylinder being open at the top and bot-r tom thereof, means for retaining one of said cylinders in xed position, means for imposing a force on the other cylinder to move it along the common axis of the twol cylinders so that a sample contained only in said annular space will bev stressed only in the direction of relative movement of the cylinders, and means operatively connected to said ,last-named meansl to indicate the extent of 'movement of the movable cylinder along the common axis of said cylinders.

9. A viscosimeter, as described in claim 8, additionally characterized by the fact that the ratio where R is the inner radius of the hollow outer cylinder, 1 is the outer radius ofthe inner 

